Lighter device for cigarettes,etc.



April 23, 1968 R. F. HIRSCH LIGHTER DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES, ETC

Filed Oct. 8, 1965 RICHARD F2 H/RSCH INVENTOR.

7 BY M w ATTY.

United States Patent 3,379,856 LIGHTER DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES, ETC.Richard F. Hirsch, 1012 E. Acacia St., Apt. 8,

Glendale, Calif. 91205 Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 494,102 Claims. (Cl.219-268) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Cigarette lighter provided with acylindrical chamber having a shiftable electric burner that is lightedwhen pressed by the light end of a cigarette. The lighter is providedwith rechargeable batteries.

This invention relates to a portable and/ or non-portable cigarettelighter and the like which may be employed for various purposes such asfor lighting fuses, punks, etc. which have stiff enough wicks to operatethe switching means. The lighter is contructed and designed to operateelectrically and is rechargeable when the battery becomes weak. Thething to be lit or fired operates the lighter by pressure means, hencehand and finger switches of any kind are not needed to operate thelighter.

When recharging of the battery cells, wet or dry ones, becomesnecessary, the lighter need only be plugged into an electric currentsupply means or adapter and left for a period of time for completerecharging and this time need only be for a few hours. Obviously, thelighter will work just as well when ordinary dry cells are substitutedfor the rechargeable ones.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a lightweight rechargeable pocket type of lighter device wherein the operationof the lighter device is accomplished by merely pressing the thing to belit, such as a cigarette, against the firing element to make it glowwhen the pressure of the thing is sufiicient to close a contact meanswithin the lighter.

Another object is to provide a lighter device having longer electricallife than present types and which lighter device is provided with atunnel type guide means that protects the firing locus from wind andother weather hazards.

Still another object is to provide an automatic type of lighter devicewhich is safe from accidental operation, and which has no flame hazardsof any kind and furthermore, a lighter device that is entirely free fromodor in that no lighter fluid is employed at all.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upona careful perusal of the specifications and drawings attached hereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with a portion of the casing brokenaway to show internal parts as to position and arrangement thereof;

FIG. 2 is an edge elevational view of that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another edge elevational view of FIG. 1 but which edge isopposite that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan View;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of an important feature of theinvention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a modified form of the invention withpart of the casing broken away to show internal parts;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of that shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a charger type of adapter.

In the drawings there is illustrated two forms or types of the inventionin order to make it clear just what the Invention is and how it can bepracticed by those skilled in the art. For the sake of simplicity, likenumerals refer to like parts.

The reference character 1 indicates the bottom of the carrying case andwhich case has the integral upstanding walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 and a topwall 6 that is curved somewhat, as shown. These walls form a chamber 7which houses the various parts of the lighter device. The bottorn wall 1may be detachable if so desired by making it an insert between theupstanding walls or as a cap as shown in FIG. 8.

Within the case or casing there is a plurality of chargeable dry typecells and in this particular expos three dry cells are employed andindicated at 8, 9 and 10. Note that the dry cells are placed inalternate inverted arrangement so that they can be readily connected inseries. The bottom wall 1 is thicker than the other walls to accommodatevarious elements therein, such as for instance, the metal or conductorlined bores 11 and 12 which are adapted to receive the conductor prongsor projections 13 and 14, respectively, of a charger means or device 15.Since chargers are well known in the art, no reason is seen in burdeningthe specifications by giving details thereof except that it is of properconstruction and design to charge the series arranged rechargeable cells8, 9 and 10 for the purposes of this invention.

Obviously, all parts of the casing may be made of a suitable plasticmaterial or any other kind of material that serves as an insulator forelectricity, but in the event a conductive metal is employed for thecasing, then the wires are insulated wherever necessary to avoid shortcircuiting.

Obviously, the charger is provided with the two wire flexible cord 16which has the plug 17 adapted to be inserted into any suitableelectrical outlet such as a wall receptable in a dwelling that is wiredfor volt alternating current, or any other current for which the deviceis designed. In the event the current is direct current, then the bores1112 and the prongs 13-14 would be of different size so that the correctpolarity is made for the charging of the cells 8, 9 and 10.

For charging purposes, the conductor lined bore 11 is connected to awire 18 which passes through the base of bottom 1 and then connects withthe positive pole of the cell 8. Obviously, all conductors ofelectricity having opposite polarity are well insulated from oneanother. The other conductor lined bore 12 is connected electrically toa conductor plate 19 which is in good electrical contact with thenegative portion of the cell 10. The negative side of the inverted cell9 is connected electrically by means of a conductor 20 to the positiveside of the cell 10. A conductor 21 connects the positive side of cell 9with the negative side of the cell 8 so as to make a complete circuitwhen a certain movable contact switch-like means is closed, and/ or whenthe charger is connected.

The cells are fixed in spaced positions, as shown, and sufficient spaceis provided to accommodate the movement of an upstanding spring typeribbon or spring band means 22 and which has its lower end fixed to thebase 1 and its upper distal end free to shift horizontally. The upperend of 22 has the fireproof insulated plate means 23 dovetailed andsecurely fixed thereto and this plate has the protruding contact means24, note FIG. 7. Secured to the plate there is an electrical heating orfiring element 25 which has one end thereof connected to the contact 24and the other end thereof connected to the top end of the metalconductor spring means 22.

Fixed to the top portion of the positive pole of the cell 8 there is oneend of a metal spring or conductor means 26 which has a turned downportion or contact means 27. A tunnel-like guide and shield or guardmeans 28 is cylindrically formed and fixed to the casing of the lighterdevice and has both ends open so that a cigarette, stogie or cigar, forinstance, can be inserted therein to make contact with the firingelement 25 and with slight pressure shift the firing element to makecircuit contact and thus become a glowing element.

The dry cells are connected in series and provide sufficient current tomake the firing element glow when the normally open circuit is closed byforcing the end of a cigarette against the firing element or heatingfilament. This element or filament is mounted upon a ceramic coatedinsulated board means which in turn is mounted on the metal spring meansor arm 22 as already explained. This spring arm is biased or treated tomaintain an open circuit when not under an external force. In the eventthe dry cells 8 to 10 (or fluid cells) are not of the rechargeable type,then the base or bottom portion 1 of the case is made removable so thatweak cells can be replaced with strong fresh ones.

The modified form shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is similar to the firstdescribed form; the main difference being that the tunnel-like guide andshield means is at the top of the case. This casing has the bottom 30which is substantially the same as the bottom 1, but is in the form of acap so as to be removable should non-rechargeable battery means beemployed. From this bottom there are the upstanding sides or walls 31,32, 33 and 34. The top curved wall is indicated at 35. An open endedtunnel guide and shield means 36 is shown as attached to the top wall.It should also be evident that the tunnel guide may be placed in thebottom wall 1 in the event that it is so desired for some purpose.

Rechargeable dry cells 8, 9 and 10 are also shown positioned in thismodified form. In this case, the cell 8 is provided with an arm orspring member 37 which has one end fixed to the positive pole thereofand the other end provided with a horizontal portion or plate 38 uponwhich is mounted the firing element or coil 39. The bottom side of 38 isprovided with the contact projection 40. The arm 37 is like arm 22 inthat it is of a good conductor material and has secured to the distalend thereof a ceramic plate which is shown at 38 and to which isattached the heating or firing element in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

The bottom end of the cell 10, that is, the negative end is attached toa conductor 41 which has the horizontal portion 42 which is adapted tobe contacted by the contact 40 so as to close the circuit and thus makethe filament 39 glow hot enough to light a cigarette or any other thingto be lighted or set afire.

Certain novel features and details of this invention are disclosedherein, and in some cases in considerable detail, in order to make theinvention clear in most all aspects thereof and especially in twopossible forms thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that theinvention, as herein disclosed, is not necessarily limited to the exactforms and details disclosed since it is apparent that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what is claimed asnew and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighter device for cigarettes and the like comprising walls forminga casing with battery means therein, a tunnel-like guide and positioningmeans in a wall of the casing with an ingress-egress opening at one endof the tunnel-like guide means to receive an insert which is to belighted, the other end of the tunnel-like guide means having an electricheating element mounted upon an elongated upstanding spring arm meansbiased against the said other end of the tunnel-like guide means, saidspring arm means having connection with one electrical side of thebattery means, a fixed spring-like contact means spaced from but nearthe said spring arm means and which fixed contact means is connectedelectrically to the other side of said battery means so that when aninsert is pressed against the heating element to make the spring armmeans contact the said fixed contact means, the circuit is closed andthe heating element glows for the purposes intended.

2. That recited in claim 1 wherein wiring means is provided so that thebattery means can be recharged from an adapter to be connected thereto.

3. That recited in claim 1 wherein the tunnel-like guide means opens toa side of the casing.

4. That recited in claim 1 wherein the tunnel-like guide means opensthrough a side wall of the casing, the spring arm means standing uprightfrom the bottom wall so that the top end of the spring arm means swingstoward the opposite wall of the casing.

5. That recited in claim 1 wherein the spring arm means is a compositeelement having a good electrical conductor means to near the top portionof the spring arm means, and a fire-resistant insulated plate secured tothe top end of the electrical conductor means and which plate supportsthe heating element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,738 12/1934 Davis 219-2612,535,665 12/1950 Boyarsky et a1. 2l9268 2,723,337 11/1955 Kempler219-261 2,982,839 5/1961 Grebel 2l9268 X 2,993,977 7/1961 Ballaguer2l9268 X 3,007,027 10/1961 Hall 2l9268 3,277,271 10/1966 Hunt 2l9268FOREIGN PATENTS 350,823 1/ 1961 Switzerland.

602,774 3/ 1960 Italy.

642,127 6/ 1962 Canada.

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

VOLODYMYR Y. MAYEWSKY, Examiner.

